ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

ENEMY ATTACK CRUSHED. AMMUNITION DUMPS FIRED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Eeuter.

Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 13. Italian official: We crushed an atI tempted attack in the Costabella region. ■ Our batteries at the Carso dispersed troop, marching eastward of Castagna- : vezza, and set on fire an ammunition | dump in the San Giovanni region. j, THE ADVENT OF WINTER. SNOWSTORMS AND GALES. Reuter Service. Reecived Oct. 15, 12.30 a.m. Rome, Oct. 14. A premature winter has begun. have been snowstorms and gales in the Trcntino, and rain and floods in the lsonzo and Carso, transforming the vall;iys into lakes of mud and making the torrents impassable. FALL OF MONTE SANTO. SIGNAL ITALIAN SUCCESS. HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE. London August 27. Dilating upon the capture of Monte Santo, an Italian semi-official message says that the Austrians considered the network of trenches, tunnels, and caverns impregnable. Morally the fall is very important, owing to the legendary sanctity of Monto Santo. The 12th Division, which was proclaimed by the high command as a division of iron, was practically annihilated. Reuter's correspondent at Udine says that it is estimates that at least 70,000 casualties have beea inflicted on the Austrian?. The capture of Monte Santo removes the constant menace of Gorizia. Further trenches on the eastern slope of Monro Santo, with considerable prisoners and oooty, have been captured. Italian war correspondents, describing the monitors that are operating in the Gulf of Venice, say that tl.jy are monster vessels, with the largest-guns made, and of long range. They surprised the Austrians. While the British pounded Hermada the Italians shelled the mili-/ tary works at Trieste. The Austrians replied feebly. The monitors were protected against attack by destroyers anu patrol-boats, which blocked the outlets of the harbors and prevented the enemy from emerging. Enemy aeroplanes, under the cover of darkness, went up and bombed the spot where the .'monitors were last seen, but they, had previously shifted their position. The only result was the loss of an enemy aeroplane, whioii was struck by shrapnel and had its cargo of bombs exploded. The enemy position is daily more critical. 'The Austrians are withdrawing their heavy -arTillerv to the rear, fearing its capture. The lOili. 45th, and 77th regiments of the 24tJi enemy diviison, have been practically annihilated. A correspondent at Italian headquarters reports that the terrible losses the Austrians have suflered have made them incapable of carrying out a serious coun-ter-att.isl: on Monte Santo. . General Borcevice's troops defended the height until the majority of them had been killed. The Italian assault was deliverri! by three column l ;. Each carried part <ji a Jl'ig, which was pieced together when the victorious columns met on the top.

it was hoisted over the. ruins of the famous' convent, and when it was seen the troops in the rest of the battlefield cheered tumultously. The offensive is being continued successfully : with unabated violence, particularly north of Gorz. The abandonment of ..depots of iood and munitions is evidence of the enemy's critical position. A correspondent at Udimv states that the Austrian Emperor witnessed the hi.Uie of Ivlonto Smuo. and saw his troops decimate! by the artillery and urged on bv bajonet retreat from the priceless position. The trenches captured bristled with almost insurmountable difficulties. The mountain sides protected the Austrian artillery, and overhanging caverns sheltered the infantry, making the taking o; the successive heights a Calvary for ti:o attackers. Once over the top, each cavern, clump of bushes, and trench became the scene of a terrific struggle, bleeding human beings disputing every v.ird of the mountain with furious des-

i peration. ! A Rome message states that the Ital- ! ian-i in Trieste, e.\citcd by echoe-, of the "i~int;c 'lattlc, paraded the city alioutHig the Austnans. iboldiers fired ■ on" them killing scares. The prisons aie •aid to be foil-